Art with a heart

Work by the late Maine artist Tobey Diane Grigsby is the subject of a new visual art series at Gallery 302 that will benefit two very diverse charities.

The current show, which debuted at the gallery April 5, includes prints of jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald for sale. Proceeds from these print sales will go to both the Harvest Hills Animal Shelter and All As One, an orphanage in the African nation of Sierra Leone.

There will be a special artist’s reception Sunday, April 13 at the gallery at 112 Main St. from 1-3 p.m. and a wine and cheese reception April 25 from 5-7 p.m.

For more information on the exhibition call 647-ARTS.

Tunes For tots

When have you been in a library that actually encourages you to make a ruckus?

If you have children with a little extra energy to expend, the Bridgton Public Library is the place to bring them. On Tuesday, April 15 at 10:30 a.m., volunteer Lizabeth Kyllonen hosts Tunes For Tots, a cacophonous celebration of singing, reading and noise-making.

Librarian Jane Whitworth said, “It’s wicked fun! The kids can come and make as much noise as they want to. Lizabeth is wonderful, she sings and read stories, then she pulls out all kinds of instruments for the kids to play.”

Kyllonen encourages kids to express themselves freely, and instills an early love of reading that is invaluable in the age of video games and i-Pods. Children of all ages are welcome. Tunes for Tots is held in the downstairs children’s reading room. For more information call 647-2472.

Donate your rebate

How better to support our local green spaces on Earth Day than with a donation to our own Pondicherry Park. Now that the snow is melting, we will all be itching to get into the great outdoors and take a hike.

Hopefully you got your taxes paid this week, or even better got a rebate, and have a little left over for altruism. The staff at the Lakes Environmental Association and Loon Echo Land Trust have put years into securing Pondicherry Park for us to enjoy. They have recently acquired the last 10 acres needed to complete the park’s perimeter, and need our help to purchase the deed.

This beautiful sanctuary belongs to all of us, and will for perpetuity. More than $400,000 has been raised towards the goal of $600,000, and Lakes Environmental Association and Loon Echo are aiming to complete fundraising by year’s end. Any donation would be appreciated. For more information, call 647-4352 or www.pondicherrypark.org.

Shoring up the park

With the parking lots and capital improvements almost complete along Main Street, the town of Bridgton is now focusing on Highland Lake and Shorey parks.

The Highland Lake Park Committee will hold a meeting Wednesday, April 16 at 6 p.m. in the board meeting room at the Municipal Building.

At issue are how to develop future uses for recreation and commerce in the parks, including the concert bandstand and public facilities. The public comments will be included in reports to the Bridgton Board of Selectmen and Town Manager Mitchell Berkowitz. Call 647-8786 with any questions about the meeting.

Sing a song of Suess

Everyone loves Dr. Seuss, right? We can all recite at least a few stanzas of his mellifluous rhymes, and if your child likes to sing, now is their chance to honor the good doctor.

Our own local stage company, the Lake Region Community Theatre, is looking for a few more cast members, 10 and older, to audition for the chorus. The production of “Seussical the Musical” is being staged June 26-28. Call 655-7317 or 693-6221, ext. 285 for more information.

Good riddance

Bridgton’s official snow total for this winter was 153 inches. As though you needed to be reminded.